In April Agatha Christie’s first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, takes the stage at Hedgerow Theatre.

...An argument is overheard. ...A wealthy woman is found dead at Styles Court, her estate outside London–and her will is missing. ...All signs point to strychnine poisoning, but is it that simple?

This is the story that introduced the world to the ace crimesolver Hercule Poirot, a Belgian refugee of the Great War. He’s invited to the scene by his friend Captain Arthur Hastings, and they set off on a clue-finding mission that turns up murder, sex and ambition.

Can you solve the case before the world’s greatest detective can?

Portrayed by actor Zoran Kovcic, Hercule Poirot is Christie's most famous and long-lived character, appearing in 33 novels, one play (Black Coffee), and more than 50 short stories published between 1920 and 1975.

DO YOU KNOW...What Great Literary Detectives Spawned New Ones?
A major influence on the early Poirot stories is that of Arthur Conan Doyle. In an Autobiography, Christie admits, “I was still writing in the Sherlock Holmes tradition – eccentric detective, stooge assistant, with a Lestrade-type Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Japp.”

For his part, Conan Doyle acknowledged basing his detective stories on the model of Edgar Allan Poe‘s C. Auguste Dupin and his anonymous narrator, and basing his character Sherlock Holmes on Joseph Bell, (a noted surgeon in real life!) who in his use of “ratiocination” prefigured Poirot’s reliance on his “little grey cells.”

Celebrate Hedgerow's 93rd Birthday with an evening of murder, mayhem and music - April 21st, 6 to 9pm

Don't be surprised if the hair on your arms stand ups at this murder mystery fundraiser! There will be outdoor entertainment in the gardens...commemorative booklets, cool collectibles for auction and throughout the night look closely for clues to help solve a major mystery by night's end!

See moving tributes to original Company Member Ann Harding, (who went on to a long career onstage and in film) as well as Janet Kelsey, a leader at Hedgerow for 50 years.

Members of the Theatre Company will be dressed as famous mystery characters, and attendees may do the same, or stick with business attire. Enjoy a bar, hors d' oeuvres and a trio of musicians from the Delaware County Symphony. For more details visit their web site.Mystery Fundraiser Night Information